Life Of Agony mean more to me than almost any heavy band, having saved my ass and countless others from depression many times. Their shows and love for their fans are legendary, truly a place where there’s no more pain for awhile. Their recent record was in the top three spots of our 2017 year end best of list and they continue to be a vital and important force in hard rock.

The contributions of drummer Sal Abruscato, also known for his work with Type O Negative and as the frontman of A Pale Horse Named Death, will never be forgotten by fans. Nonetheless, it is a new day as Veronica Bellino has joined the group. Sal with be spending more time with his family and reactivating APHND, however…good news!

More below and WELCOME Veronica! We are so fucking stoked to hear her live!

& Please give a warm welcome to our new Drummer @VeronicaBellino, Best known for her work wth Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Jeff Beck, DMC, Richie Sambora/Orianthi, & Carmine Appice/Slamm.We’re so incredibly happy to have her on the team. More updates on the way! pic.twitter.com/Sy0af75Lg9

2017 managed to be even more exhausting and painful than 2016, for the most part. I hate to sound so negative (despite writing for a metal blog), but it is the truth. Thankfully we had so much good music to help save us from extinction. While we lost many more great artists this year to the great beyond, this list alone is a reminder that a lot of kick ass bands are just hitting their stride. Rock n’ roll is in safe hands as long as acts like these take the time to remain so invested in their art. Yes, even Gwar (hahaha).

While in the past we have often had lengthy descriptions for each album that made our rather amorphic year end lists, this year (album of the year excluded), we listed the artist name and the album cover. It is less about being lazy than encouraging you to discover some of this music for yourself. Live in it a little or discover something new without preconceptions other than the recommendation (though let’s get real, if you are reading Metal Riot you prob stay attuned to the goings ons of many an obscure or well known band anyhow). But yeah, we wrote about it all year long, after all…let’s experience it together. Smack the tambourine together and slit our wrists and twist and shout and all that crap.

Suffice to say, it is awesome to see a wide variety of sub genres, related branches and different types of people represented. We hope you feel the same. You BETTER feel the same when it comes to the awesomeness of having several antifascist black metal bands on our list. And anybody who wants to complain about Limp Wrist beating out some more “metal” acts hasn’t heard how intense, timely and passionate Facades is.

From Life Of Agony‘s explosive comeback supporting Mina Caputo to Woe‘s scorching “No Blood Has Honor” (and the album that houses it) to the hits you in the gut critically acclaimed Zeal and Ardor record to Bell Witch‘s engulfing latest opus to Kreator breaking the sound barrier to Wage War even proving there is still some life in Metalcore, you’ll find quite a lot to digest here and revisit or look up if you already haven’t heard or purchased these babies.

Anyway, there will be some random posts here and there before the end of 2017 on Metal Riot, but I am scaling back the next few weeks to deal with some very important family stuff, start the next stage of my transition mindfully, brace for the holidays and to both help assist with the next Globelamp album AND work on an EP I am doing as Walking Bombs in collaboration with the noise project Gridfailure. Thanks for everyone who gives a shit! I’m extra stoked on a lot of the records this year as well as the piece we got to run on the Warzone NYHC tribute.

I’ve been a fan of Walls of Jericho for years, ever since the old Hellfest2000 DVD with bands like Brother’s Keeper and Shai Hulud that Mic Todd gave me freakin’ 14 years ago (before we hated each other for a long time). There is one scene where Walls of Jericho’s confident vocalist Candace Kucsulain straight up flips some running dude over her and throws him into the crowd.

I was like ,”Ok, she’s a bad ass.”

I dug The Bound Feed The Gagged debut a lot but in all these years have always missed them live, even
on some bigger package tours. It was worth the wait, a blur of inspired messages and crunching guitar attack.

I have, however, seen Life Of Agony. This was my third time seeing the veteran
band at Starland, vocalist Mina’s professed “favorite venue in America”. They
never fail to impress at this place, even if one of their rowdier anthems is called
“Love To Let You Down.”

No, Mina’s birthday bash found the group and their single opening act both in top form, delivering fired up and relevant sets to a crowd eager for some stress relief but wary of recent events. On Twitter Caputo had written before the show:

Hard rockers Life Of Agony always put their best foot forward live and the footage from Grasspop 2015 is a great example of how they still bring it hard. Mina and the boys rage through classics to a huge crowd. This band still deserves all the love in the world. Hope they make a new album. Meanwhile, watch the electric concert footage BELOW.

It’s been about a week since I got really horrible news that my dad passed away suddenly. I’m kind of chilling listening to Bad Brains dub record they did at Applehead Studios in Woodstock, NY from 2002, I & I Survived. Dealing with so much family stuff as my sister Cambria Evans and I navigate tending to my very understandably stressed out and distraught mom (presently relaxing and listening to the cool rhodes piano or whatever is on this track behind the dub), it has me questioning many of my choices of the last twenty years when I was partying as a younger dude… drinking too much, time I could have spent with family. It really hurts.

But seeing the photos of my boys Painmask that I just got from Beneath The Remains bassist (and Metal Riot photographer) Matt Slater, it reminds me that this scene has also been family to me. I’ve gotten to be part of interviewing hundreds of bands and helping people who believe in art and metal and hardcore, so it hasn’t all been a waste. My dad supported me in my pursuit of rock n roll.

The bonds made- even with a band like Painmask whom some of you new school kids might not even know about cuz they never had a trendy record deal… these are priceless friendships. Seeing Jay Avery, Carl Carlew and the guys in these photos makes me think of countless shows with Painmask and bands like All Out War, Subzero, whoever…where creativity, crazy pits of energy but with brotherhood and unity at the core and most of all music that will last…it matters. We’ve all been doing shows together for like 20 years!

I talk a lot about Life Of Agony on this site and Joey Z. just produced the Painmask guys recently. They even recorded some of the early tracking at one of the band’s I sing for, Antidote 8‘s studio Darkworld Studio. SO it was awesome to meet Joey Z and hear him mixing Painmask levels on my bassist Dave Daw’s console last year. Anyway, these are shots from a recent Painmask show at Hot Shotz in Upstate, NY. It’s a small venue that hosts cover bands and occasioal rock shows, but they support live music so who gives a fuck.

I just wanna say be thankful for the friends you have and the limited time on this Earth. Make it count!

Let’s get one thing straight (no pun intended)…Freddie Mercury is the greatest frontman ever besides maybe, I dunno, GG Allin and H.R., haha. Do you guys remember when Marilyn Manson allegedly had a rib removed so he could give himself head? Yeah, that was a good one. Seriously, most people would kill to have even an iota of the power Freddie Mercury let loose on a regular basis, complete command of audience and material…a true rock God. Was it because he was homosexual? Haha, maybe…but that’s silly. The truth is that it was raw talent. Even his song from the first Highlander movie is like the most epic fuckin’ shit I ever heard in my life and puts most metalcore bands to shame. And remember the George Michael “Freedom” video where every babe in the world was in it?

I haven’t wanted to comment on the recent Attila/Senses Fail feud, because I just got a new Sonata Arctica promo of Ecliptica – Revisited (their early record recut by the current line-up) and it is pretty awesome and attention grabbing. Still, the cavalier use of the word “faggot” by Fronz of Attila and the beef it caused with respected emo/hard rock vets Senses Fail should be discussed, though Metal Injection’s Shayne Mathis did an awesome job in this feature.

It was thrilling to attend the sold out Starland Ballroom Life of Agony and A Pale Horse Named Death show (w/Antwerp openers Diablo Blvd bringing their blend of Danzig-influenced hard rock). It is no secret I am one of the biggest LOA and Type O fans in the world and have been blessed to interview Mina, Sal and to have met Joey Z on different occasions. This band saved my life and I know I am not alone among you metalriot.com readers out there in vocalizing that.

That said, be it their name, the serious nature of their blend of melodic alternative rock and old school hard core and metal or just timing, Life Of Agony are both huge AND underrated. No one knew for sure if they would ever come back now that singer Kieth Caputo transitioned to become Mina Caputo, but from the first note of the band’s set the place erupted and the room was nothing but love. It was completely life affirming and rock n roll as hell.

FEAR FACTORY are currently working on material for their Nuclear Blast debut. The as-of-yet-untitled album will be co-produced by long-time collaborator Rhys Fulber, along with Cazares and Bell. A Winter 2015 release is expected. The current line up of the band is expected to be on the release:

Kingston, NY’s hardcore kings Painmaskare underground vets who real heads know have been in this dogfight for decades. Now, the band have an upcoming gigwith Cro-Mags and Sub Zero in Poughkeepsie, NY

Says intelligent vocalist Jay Avery:

“Were really excited for this upcoming show and the chance to meet and hang with great local acts and support two legendary New York Hardcore bands. Both Subzero and Cro-mags have pioneered the style and scene that we have always been proud to be part of. We’re taking this opportunity to introduce new members of the band and material that is soon to be released. We’re confident that the new additions to the Painmask roster will once again deliver! Were a solid group of lifelong metalheads with endless ambition. Our strict mission is to deliver the most intense, thought provoking, heavy music set one could ask for. And If you don’t believe me come see for yourself. We offer a money back guarantee!”

I asked Avery how about the material they recently tracked with Joey Z. of Life Of Agony fame at various studios?

“Were working on final mixes with the new tracks and couldn’t be more happier with the outcome. We were a little concerned at first with the recent member changes, but what has emerged is incredible! Life’s circumstances have parlayed into something bigger and stronger then we could have imagined. JoeyZ really is a cut above to work with. His advice and professionalism is second to none! But with the recent resurgence of Life of Agony and their European shows this month, we’ve had to take a short pause from mastering. We should have these songs available by mid September. But if you’re one of the lucky ticket holders and we see you at the sold out LOA reunion on Sept 13 in Sayreville NJ. I might even have a copy for you.”

Sometimes people we think we know very well are only showing a fraction of who they really are. It could take awhile, but eventually the things we hide away may become unbearable and need to surface. For years hard rock and alternative fans loved the rich voice of Keith Caputo of Life of Agony, not knowing that the amazing lyricist and musician who wrote the songs and poetry they responded to was locked in an intense internal battle about wanting to come forward as transgender.

In 2011 the dam broke and the world was introduced to Mina Caputo. Ever since childhood Caputo had felt repressed and different, but being raised in a strict Sicilian household and then becoming famous in a hugely popluar but macho hard rock band left Mina feeling afraid to embrace her inner feminine side. A string of terrific solo albums found Caputo pretty much publicly transitioning via empowered (albeit shocking) music videos like 2008’s “Crawling” or “Got Monsters”. Now thankfully LOA are continuing forward with Mina and defying stereotypes of what they have to be. It’s a glorious thing.

Now having released her first solo album as a transgender woman (after many great solo records as Keith), the acclaimed vocalist spoke to me about her journey and the making of the breathtaking As Much Truth As One Can Bear. Songs like the stunning “Over The Moon” or the wistful “Cracks in the Mirror” detail alienation, strength of character and a willingness to further explore music of all kinds.

We are so pleased that Life of Agony are reuniting for summer European shows with Marilyn Manson and Machine Head, giving the finger to anyone in the heavy world too freaked out by Mina Caputo’s transition to give respect to one of the best bands of all time, that we are doing an LOA deep cuts for ya.

Ever since I first heard “Bad Seed” on Vassar College radio years ago, I was hooked on the dark guitar of Joey Z, the trauma laced emotionally overpowering yet comforting vocals of Caputo, the pounding drums of Sal and the supportive bass work of Alan. This band saved my life and should be a part of any hard rock diet.

Click HERE to see which 3 cuts from this legendary live act and group of true New York originals made the cut.

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